The plastic bags ban in Italy has provoked a mixed reaction, but Stefania Prestigiacomo, the environment minister, has said there is no going back on the government's decision: "Sustainability is made of little changes to our lifestyle that don't cost us anything and can save the planet."

Some say it's about time and that we are finally aligning ourselves to the rest of Europe – and that this should have happened a long time ago. But while this is the position shared by those who consider banning the distribution of nondegradable plastic bags to be the only "civilised" way forward in terms of taking steps to protect the environment, not all Italians agree with the cabinet's decision.

"We are not prepared to face such a cultural change," says Florence lawyer Giampaolo Pagnini. "We should take it slowly, because we do not have the cultural background to know how to deal with this. It took us ages to adapt to wearing a seatbelt when that law came into effect." Antonella d'Antoni, who works for a bank in Rome, echoes the sentiment: "This is the same, it will take time."

Although a television campaign has informed citizens about the ban and about environmentally friendly alternatives, many are still unaware of it. The waiter behind the counter at a busy coffee bar in a Rome square said he knew nothing of the ban. As for stores and supermarkets, they will be allowed to use up their stocks but must give them out free of charge.

"I do not agree with the banning of plastic shopping bags," says Luigi Taragni, a Rieti paediatrician. "I think they are preferable and much better than paper ones or nondegradable ones, which are more difficult to handle, hold less, break more easily and cost more. I'll adapt to this decision, just like I was forced to adapt to rubbish recycling, but I am not sure I agree with these limited measures." Some, such as Stefano Germani from Rome, fear this is just going to turn into a new business: "All this is about is increasing the cost of new degradable bags that consumers will be forced to purchase if they do not want to face fines."

Women who go to the shops on a daily basis say there is only one solution and everyone will have to grow accustomed to it: "We have to change our habits. We need to bring our own bags from home every time we go shopping. It's a change of mentality that is needed," says Daniela Lo Castro, mother of three boys.

According to Italy's Environment League, citizens have been using a total of 20bn plastic bags per year, that's more than 300 per capita. It says there will only be positive effects on pollution if these are replaced with 10 reusable shopping bags. The outcome will be more than 180,000 tons of oil saved and as many CO2 emissions, and in addition there will be no dispersion of indestructible plastic in fields, rivers and seas.

While there is no doubt in my mind that a change in mentality is needed and change always takes some time, it is also true that our children will learn not to use plastic bags because these will no longer be available. Consequently, a benefit to their environment not in the short-term but certainly in the long-term will be assured.